Spiraea japonica Crispa

Spiraea japonica 'Crispa' is an absolutely adorable dwarf variety of Japanese spirea. Over time, this bush forms a dense and round shape, adorned with curiously crisped and dentate foliage, and offers a long and charming summer flowering in pink-red corymbs that will complement all kinds of bushes and perennials, in the garden as well as on a terrace or balcony. A sturdy plant, adapting to almost all growing conditions, it will thrive in a sunny or shaded exposure.

Spiraea japonica 'Crispa', from the Rosaceae family, is an original cultivar derived from the Japanese spirea, native to China and Japan. The growth of this bush is quite slow, and its adult size will not exceed 70 cm to 80 cm (27.6 in to 31.5 in) in height and 80 cm (31.5 in) in spread. With a rounded and compact habit, this variety has deciduous foliage with a distinctive appearance: its oblong, deeply cut and dentate leaves appear crisped. The young shoots, almost yellowish green, are particularly decorative. The foliage, bright green and shiny on the upper side, glaucous underneath, turns yellow, orange, and red in autumn. The flowers appear in abundance from June to September, grouped in medium-sized terminal corymbs (10 cm (3.9 in)), with a deep pink colour, at the end of the year's shoots. This flowering attracts many butterflies, bees, and bumblebees.

With its round shape, this very hardy and floriferous bush is ideal for forming the framework of a perennial border or for planting in a large border in front of a taller hedge. Its small size allows for container cultivation on a terrace or balcony. Combine Spiraea japonica 'Crispa' with white, pink, or mauve ground-covering roses, or blue or purple bushy salvias. 'Crispa' will be perfect as a large ground cover, in front of shrub beds or along pathways. You can place it at the front row of a countryside hedge, alongside other small-sized spireas (Spiraea betulifolia), dwarf red osier (Salix purpurea 'Nana'), or even dwarf weigela (Weigela florida 'Nana Purpurea'.)